Quarantine Hints
 

Hi
I was going to post this with the Food/Vitamin question but it isn't food and it is important enough to deserve its own thread.
When purchasing woven baskets, place mats etc. in Asia or Africa etc., it's a good idea to buy a can of pesticide (mortein etc.) and a large garbage bag. Put all into the bag and spray into the bag then seal it for the night prior to leaving to leaving for Australia.
We are partial to place mats from Bali and initially brought a bunch in about 5 yrs ago with no problem - they weren't even checked. Two years ago,when we bought more, they took them all out and tapped the mats on the stainless steel counters and all these microscopic bugs fell out. Yuck! Apparently it is very common. The officer was very nice but we had to leave them for several days for a 3rd party fumigator to fumigate them at our charge. The officer gave us the above advice and said that is all the fumigator does here.

Also if you are bringing golf shoes and clubs - clean them thoroughly beforehand - it could save you a lot of time and hassle.

I always purchase boxed orchids at Changi Airport in Singapore - half the price to Australia and they last forever. The quarantine officers will check them for bugs but I have never had a problem. They make a lovely gift if you are staying with someone.

We brought back wooden and woven straw items from Bali into Australia and were allowed to bring them all in but customs told us we should place all items in the freezer at home for 24 hours, to kill any bugs that might be lurking. It sounded a strange thing to do but worth it if it kills anything that could be harmful. Luckily we have a big freezer!
I didn't realise you could bring in orchids from Singapore, what a great idea for a gift.
Kay

We have just returned from Vanuatu and most wooden items had to be handed to the relevant authorities in time for them to have a 12 hour fumigation before being brought back to Australia.

Thats good advice about cleaning golf clubs and shoes, many golf courses of the world are watered by untreated sewage.

BTW, there's many orchid growers in North Queensland and they're much cheaper here than southern states, both as cut sprays and entire plants. I priced some orchids last year in Stanley Markets, Hong Kong, about the same price as here for exactly the same species.

Hi Pat
Do the FNQ orchid growers deleiver to Sydney. I looove orchids. A box of 50 sprays costs S$50.00 or around A$40.00. You can buy less but I always get a big box.
Another reason, you have to be careful with golf gear is that the dirt and grass can carry bacteria and other nasties. That's why they ask you if you have visited a farm lately.

Hi Sarvowinner, yes, they do but they charge like wounded bulls for southern deliveries. I buy them from Rusty's Market in Cairns (sprays or flowering plants)or from Bruno at Port Douglas market on Sundays or straight from the grower. A flowering plant is often cheaper than a decent bunch of flowers and as you say, lasts much longer. We don't get cymbidiums though, dendrobiums (similar to the Singapore orchids), cattleyas, vandas, oncidiums and the lovely phalaenopsis are just some. Autumn and spring are the best times, its worth a trip up here!